Pre-Colonial Literature in the Philippines

Summary

In this 21st-century literature lesson, 'Teacher Jolly' introduces the pre-colonial phase of Philippine literary history, highlighting its geographic, linguistic, and ethnic dimensions. The lesson explores the rich diversity of literature in the archipelago, from the ancient alibata script to oral traditions like chants and debates. It emphasizes the importance of literature as a reflection of people's feelings and ideas, showcasing examples of riddles, epigrams, and poems that were integral to the cultural fabric of pre-colonial Philippines. The session concludes with a quiz to reinforce the understanding of the material covered.

Takeaways

• 📘 The lesson is about 21st-century Philippine literature, focusing on its geographic, linguistic, and ethnic dimensions.
• 🏛️ The discussion is divided into four parts: pre-colonial, Spanish colonial, American colonial, and contemporary literature.
• 📚 The focus for today is on pre-colonial literature, which is the first part of Philippine literary history.
• 📖 Literature is derived from the Latin term 'littera' and is defined in various ways, expressing feelings towards society, government, and the divine.
• 📜 The first Filipino alphabet was called 'alibata', which was later replaced by the Roman alphabet.
• 🌴 Philippine literature was influenced by the traditions and customs of its many islands, each with unique cultures and literatures.
• 📃 Pre-colonial literature was based on perishable materials and was passed down orally, including written forms like riddles, epigrams, and poems.
• 🧩 Riddles (salawika) and poems (tanaga) were common forms of written literature, often reflecting values and life lessons.
• 🎭 Oral literature included chants (ambahan) used in traditional ceremonies and debates in verse (balagtasa).
• 📝 The quiz at the end of the lesson tests understanding of the pre-colonial literature discussed, with a passing score of three out of five.
• 👩‍🏫 The teacher, Jolly, emphasizes the importance of self-accountability in learning and encourages students to review the material for better understanding.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the lesson presented in the transcript?

The main topic of the lesson is the pre-colonial literature of the Philippines, which is the first part of the geographic, linguistic, and ethnic dimensions of Philippine literary history.

What are the four parts into which the Philippine literary history is divided according to the transcript?

The four parts of Philippine literary history are pre-colonial literature, Spanish colonial literature, American colonial literature, and contemporary literature.

What is the origin of the term 'literature' as mentioned in the transcript?

The term 'literature' is derived from the Latin term 'littera', which means 'letter'.

How does Brother Azereen define literature in the transcript?

According to Brother Azereen, literature expresses the feelings of people to society, the government, their surroundings, fellowmen, and their divine creator.

What does Webster define literature as in the transcript?

Webster defines literature as anything that is printed as long as it is related to the ideas and feelings of people, whether it is true or false, or just a product of one's imagination.

What was the first Filipino alphabet mentioned in the transcript?

The first Filipino alphabet mentioned in the transcript is the alibata, which was later replaced by the Roman alphabet.

How many islands does the Philippines consist of, as stated in the transcript?

The Philippines consists of 7,107 islands, each with unique cultures and traditions.

What types of literature existed during the pre-colonial period in the Philippines?

During the pre-colonial period, there were two types of literature: written and oral literature.

What are some examples of written literature from the pre-colonial period mentioned in the transcript?

Examples of written literature from the pre-colonial period include riddles, epigrams or salawika, and poems or tanaga.

What is an 'ambahan' as described in the transcript?

An 'ambahan' is a traditional poetry of Hanunuo Magnanzen of Oriental Mindoro, used in teaching life lessons, expressing love, imparting experiences, or in tribal ceremonies.

What is 'balagtasa' and how is it related to the pre-colonial literature?

Balagtasa is a Filipino form of debate done in verse, derived from the surname of Francisco Balagtas, the author of the Filipino epic 'Florante at Laura'. It is an example of oral literature from the pre-colonial period.